The Skies, Heavens and Stars over Avalon

As everybody knows, the world is flat. Avalon is both the name of the main continental landmass (with its four major cities and numerous towns/villages etc) and also the name of the world - a hemisphere where the skies are the region above the land and the sea, filling a dome whose surface is patterned with the starry firmament. Outside of the dome lies the void and legend tells of two portals, one to the far west and one to the east in the higher reaches of the sky, leading between Avalon and the void without.

There are many ways to interact with the skies and even those without specialist skills affording them flight can use, for instance, flying steeds to enter the lower reaches of the skies and soar quickly about the land. Specific commands will be found in the appropriate skill listings but two should be introduced here: DESCENT which, when you are in the skies, informs you of the various points on the ground covered by your particular portion of sky accessible via the DESCEND command. DESCEND followed by a compass direction will then allow you to move down to your chosen location on the ground.

The skies themselves boast multiple levels, advanced specialised skills (or apposite quests) required as one goes higher. The first 'level' is found just below the clouds, the second holds the winds, clouds and the weather-fronts. The third level lies above the hurly burly of wind and weather, as one begins to approach the heavens. Further still one might find - as the dome of the world curves towards its highpoint - the realm of the sun and the moon; then the impregnable barrier of the dome itself and its firmament of stars. All can be reached, via skill or quest, by mortal endeavour, though the precious few fortunate enough to have walked among the stars are figures of legend, so rare is the achievement; and so far removed from the everyday concerns of one's Avalon life and goals.

IMPORTANT NOTE: travelling through the skies when one is a non-flyer and not mounted on a flying steed can be a dangerous business. It is usually done in the company of a trusted companion. Should you find yourself in the sky without a friendly leader, in non-flight mode and not mounted on a flying steed, then you will tumble to the ground - potentially with fatal impact. If you plan on leading friends into the skies make sure you are in FRIENDLY mode - to denote you are happy to be leading them. Conversely if you do not wish to be followed as you fly, type HOSTILE to keep your distance from anyone trying to keep up with you; or to leave anyone in your entourage to fend for his/herself. If he/she is a non-flyer and you go HOSTILE, the consequences will be an immediate and extremely serious tumble!